Team siliconindia

• SGH-BJMC seek return of NIV land as lease ends in 2026.
• Land needed for hospital expansion and new medical colleges.
• Govt reviewing proposal; decision pending after evaluation.

In a significant development that could reshape Pune’s public healthcare landscape, BJ Medical College (BJMC) and Sassoon General Hospital (SGH) have formally urged authorities not to renew the lease on a prime land parcel currently occupied by the National Institute of Virology (NIV). The lease, which expires in June 2026, pertains to an 8,311-square-meter plot situated on Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road a strategically vital location for SGH's proposed expansion plans.

The issue was brought up during a recent review meeting chaired by Madhuri Misal, Minister of State (MoS) for Medical Education. SGH officials reiterated their demand to reclaim the land and submitted letters to the state medical education department and the Pune district administration. Citing the Bombay Government Premises (Eviction) Act, 1955 and its revised 2007 regulations, SGH has requested that the land be restored to them post-lease expiry.

Hospital authorities revealed that although NIV initially leased the land from SGH for 99 years, the lease technically expired in 2001. Yet, NIV continues to occupy the premises. Notably, NIV already possesses a dedicated campus in Pashan. "The Ambedkar Road land is owned by SGH, and its continued occupation despite the lease's expiration is a pressing concern", stated a senior SGH official, referencing a letter sent to the Pune District Administration, a copy of which was accessed by Hindustan Times.

Minister Madhuri Misal confirmed the discussion in Friday’s meeting, noting, “SGH and BJMC officials raised the issue regarding land occupied by NIV. I have asked them to submit a detailed proposal, and upon review, we will take an appropriate decision”.

SGH has underscored a growing space crunch, which is significantly hampering its ability to expand healthcare services in line with rising patient demand. According to the hospital administration, the reclaimed land could facilitate several critical projects: a super-speciality hospital, a dental college, a physiotherapy college, hostels for postgraduate students, and a Dharmashala (rest house) for families of patients.

Dr Ekanth Pawar, dean of BJMC, stressed the importance of the location. “The land is ideal for setting up a super-speciality hospital, which will allow us to treat more patients who otherwise turn to private hospitals for advanced care. We’ve already submitted the necessary proposal to the government”, he said. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to gain approval for establishing a dental and physiotherapy college.

“We were officially informed of the lease’s status through a letter from the district administration. Given the rising patient load and the fact that SGH is the only tertiary care government hospital in the region, the need for expansion is critical”, Dr Pawar added.

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SGH is a key public healthcare institution catering to patients from Pune and several neighbouring districts including Solapur, Satara, Kolhapur, Sangli, and Ahilya Nagar. With thousands of economically disadvantaged patients visiting daily, officials warned that without reclaiming and redeveloping the land, SGH’s ability to provide quality healthcare at scale could be seriously undermined.

The final decision now hinges on the detailed proposal SGH and BJMC are expected to submit in the coming weeks.